Navajo Nation Social Issues

An editorial in the Arizona
Republic (10/12/03 Tribal Tragedy) indicates thatviolence on tribal lands,
including murder, sexual assault, vehicular manslaughter and violent assault, is at
"crime wave" proportions with no end anywhere in sight. The editoriallaments that many native American tribes and especially the Navajos, remain poor
and that alcohol and substance abuse are rampant problems.

Interestingly, the environment groups that
want to drain Lake Powell want to take away the Navajo Nation's only real economic engine.
Take away Lake Powell and you take away annually over $100 million dollars of
economic benefit from the Navajo Generation Station alone. You take away the
educational opportunity at the Page High School and Page branch of the Coconino Community
College. You take away the opportunity for Native Americans to hold jobs near the
reservation where they can continue their cultural ties and support their elders still
living on the reservation. You take away their opportunities to send their children
to good schools.

It's perhaps fashionable to bash economic
growth and industry but you should consider that jobs and education offer hope.
Unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse only serve to drive Native Americans away from
their homeland.

Positive news doesn't receive much media
attention but at least the Arizona Daily Sun on 10-12-03 reported the Peabody Mines was
honored by the Department of the Interior and received a "Gold Good Neighbor
Award" for developing a host of environmental, economic and tribal initiatives on
Native American lands in Arizona."

The mines received awards for programs that
included reclaiming lands for livestock grazing, restoring plants and herbs, providing
potable water and coal for heat, improving local infrastructure, and supporting education
through scholarships.

Antelope Marina
Groundbreaking

May 2003

Local,
regional and national officials descended on Antelope Point May 5 to break ground on a
long-awaited $70 million marina project thats expected to provide a major economic
boost to the Navajo Nation and the city of Page.

Today marks a new beginning at Antelope Point,
and the fulfillment of a promise the U.S. government made to the Navajo Nation 30 years
ago, said Kitty Roberts, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Its definitely a time to celebrate.

Antelope Point Marina is expected to consist of 300 boat slips, a dry dock with a 500-boat
capacity, a 225-room hotel, and a Navajo cultural center, among other amenities. The $70
million project is expected to take between six and eight years to reach final completion,
but marina officials hope the facility will be operational by the 2004 visitors season.

Navajo Nation Vice President Frank Dayish, Jr. told the crowd that Antelope Point will
benefit the reservation not only through increased tourism, but also with the creation of
numerous jobs for its residents. The project is expected to create about 175 temporary
construction jobs and 150 or so permanent jobs once the facility opens for business.

One of the major goals of the Shirley-Dayish administration is to focus on job
creation, Dayish said after the groundbreaking. We want to provide jobs for
anyone who wants to work. When you have 45-50 percent unemployment, anything that creates
even one job benefits the whole Navajo Nation.

Lawrence Platero, chairman of the Navajo Nations Economic Development Committee,
gave the crowd some hard numbers reflecting the marinas anticipated economic impact
on LeChee and the reservation.

The project is expected to generate $1.4 million annually in land-lease revenues, another
$1.4 million in tax proceeds, and $10 million each year in payroll salaries for its
workers. The marinas overall economic impact for the area is projected to be about
$30 million each year. .

Emission Standards for
New Gasoline Marine Engines

The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has issued regulations that will bring forth a new generation of
marine engines featuring cleaner technology and providing better engine performance to
boat owners.

Controlling exhaust emissions from
new gasoline spark-ignition (SI ) marine engines will result in an unprecedented 75
percent reduction in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from these engines by the year 2025.

Likely options for achieving compliance
include converting current OB/PWC 2-stroke engine technology to 4-stroke, direct-injection
2-stroke, or possibly equipping engines with catalytic converters in some applications.

Bruce Babbitt was in
Page on July 14 and 15 to discuss his vision for a new National Monument on the Paria
Plateau near Page. See pictures of his Spencer Trail hike and read about his
vision.

found around the Page Area

Paleontological Summary and Pictures

This comprehensive site contains many excellent (i.e.
factual) articles on the distribution of Glen Canyon power to rural communities, the
downstream water supply issues and the fauna that depend upon Lake Powell. A must read!

Beaver populations below the dam have increased dramatically
since the pre-dam era. Read more about beavers in the
Grand Canyon.